SIALKOT, Feb 5: Thousands of Kashmiris and people belonging to different professions on Thursday rallied in parts of the Punjab to express solidarity with the people of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Kashmiris, professionals and commoners in Sialkot and Narowal marched towards Daallowali village near the Sialkot working boundary under the leadership of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Movement convener Dr Zahid Ghani Dar and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Forum Secretary-General, Col Muhammad Akhtar Butt (retired).

They staged a sit-in at the village to share grief with the oppressed Kashmiris, brandishing banners and placards and chanting slogans against Indian atrocities.

The Kashmiri leaders also condemned Indian terrorism, genocide and large-scale human rights' violations, and pledged to continue the Kashmir freedom movement.

Protest meetings were also held at Sialkot city, Bhopalwala, Daska, Uggoki, Sambrial, Pasrur, Chawinda and Badiana. The activists of the MMA and other religio-political parties also took out rallies throughout the day.

Earlier, Dr Zahid and the other Kashmiri leader spoke at a press conference during which they urged the UNO to ensure implementation of its resolutions and pressure India to halt state terrorism.

Effigies of Indian Prime Minister Vajpaee were also burnt during demonstrations.

FAISALABAD: Hundreds of activists of religio-political groups demonstrated to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people.

Led by local leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the protesters marched through various city roads. They raised slogans against Indian forces and also the Pakistan government for what they said "taking a U-turn on foreign policies."

They held demonstration at the Clock Tower Intersection during which the MMA leaders, including Maulana Yousaf Anwar and Sardar Zafar Husain, said the countrymen would not allow the present regime to change its stand on Kashmir.

They alleged that confessions made by Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan was "a drama staged by the rulers just to please their foreign masters."

Meanwhile, a number of NGOs, student organizations and trade bodies also demonstrated to observe the Kashmir day.

SARGODHA: MMA's Punjab President Hafiz Muhammad Idrees flayed the government at a new conference in Sargodha.

He accused the government of making grounds for a compromise on the Kashmir issue, but pledged that neither any Pakistani nor Kashmiri would accept any such proposal at the cost of right of plebiscite acknowledged by the UNO Security Council.

He called upon the ARD to give up its pro-US policy and lend a hand to the alliance for the country's benefit.

Meanwhile, a rally was taken out by the alliance components, including the Jamaat-i-Islami.

VEHARI: A complete strike was observed in the district on the Kashmir Solidarity Day with freedom fighters, and activists of MMA and other parties taking out processions.

The participants chanted slogans against the Indian atrocities and assembled at the TMA Chowk where various local leaders criticized the government policy on Kashmir and action against scientists. They also appealed to the masses to co-operate with the MMA in its strike call for today (Friday) in favour of scientists.

BAHAWALPUR: In Bahawalpur, the six-party alliance organized a rally and a solidarity conference and formed a chain of human hands.

The rally was brought out from the Kashmir park (near GPO) and its participants had held banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of the Kashmiris' freedom and their right to self-determination.

At the Farid gate's main commercial centre they formed a chain of hands. Earlier before proceeding, they had observed a minute's silence.

GUJRANWALA: The day was observed with zeal and pledges to fight for the rights of the Kashmiris.

The MMA, city tehsil council and other organizations took out rallies in support of the people in the occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The first rally, organized by the city tehsil council, was led by City Nazim Babu Javed Ahmad. A public meeting was held at same venue in connection with the Kashmir day where the Nazim and others appreciated the government's policy on Kashmir.

SAHIWAL: A partial strike was observed in Sahiwal to express solidarity with the Kashmiri brethren.

Some of the shops and markets remained closed. A procession was taken out from Al-Huda, which was lead by the MMA district leaders and the local newsmen. Another rally was led by Tehsil Nazim Rana Amir Shahzad.

SADIQABAD: A big rally was taken out here under the leadership of MMA's Maulana Mushtaq Ahmad. The participants moved from Petrol Pump Chowk and held at meeting at Fawara Chowk.

SHEIKHUPURA: "Any bargain on Kashmir will not be accepted and plebiscite as described in the UNO charter is the only solution to the dispute," said leaders of the processions taken out in parts of the district. Scores of Jamaat-i-Islami activists were among the rallyists, who marched through various roads and streets.